: We have a floor drain in our laundry room that has a ball float in it. Water seeps down very slowly. What is the purpose of having this type of float in there? Would it be OK to remove this float totally? The drain doesn' serve its purpose of it doesn't drain. Thanks

It sounds like it is some kind of backwater device--it would close off the drain if sewage backed up from the other direction. I have not seen one that operates in this manner, but there is a whole lot I haven't seen;-). Taking it out would remove this safegaurd. DebThe Pipewench